Driving cheaply

2010-03-04 10:26:29

#1

jord: Member; +2,382|7086|The North, beyond the wall.

Hi motoring enthusiasts. What with the harsh financial times and being a cheap bastard I've been trying to drive more economically. IE coasting down hills. Does this actually make any differance? I'm also curious about traffic jams. I've been in a few lately and I know turning the ignition off and on probably uses a fair bit of petrol but is it more than the engine running for 30 seconds? What about 60 seconds+? Finally, does using the heater increase fuel consumption?

I await your helpful responses kind fellows.

2010-03-04 10:27:37

#2

13/f/taiwan: Member; +940|6107

I thought you were in the army?

2010-03-04 10:32:07

#3

jord: Member; +2,382|7086|The North, beyond the wall.

Left a while back, long story.

2010-03-04 10:33:18

#4

Engineer_Fox: Has a horse outside; +48|5592|Hague City Firm - Holland

I don't know what kinda mountains or hills there are in the UK but going downhill in neutral actually consumes more gas for some reason.

About the traffic james. Turning the engine off and on, it will use more gas because it has to start over and over, leaving it in idle will make better mileage. IT will only save gas if you wait at a bridge or train crossing etc.

About the heater, I have no clue.

2010-03-04 10:36:41

#5

jord: Member; +2,382|7086|The North, beyond the wall.

Thanks for the good reply. I didn't know going downhills in neutral used move fuel, there goes my sense of logic...

2010-03-04 10:38:36

#6

Jebus: Looking for my Scooper; +218|6173|Belgium

I thought 30 seconds or 1 minute wait already conserves gas when turning the engine off

2010-03-04 10:41:06

#7

max: Vela Incident; +1,652|6976|NYC / Hamburg

Engineer_Fox wrote:
I don't know what kinda mountains or hills there are in the UK but going downhill in neutral actually consumes more gas for some reason.

When you're going downhill in gear, the engine management will cut off fuel supply, and the engine will continue running, being driven by the wheels. At least with modern engines

About the traffic james. Turning the engine off and on, it will use more gas because it has to start over and over, leaving it in idle will make better mileage. IT will only save gas if you wait at a bridge or train crossing etc.

indeed

jord wrote:
Finally, does using the heater increase fuel consumption?

Hardly. It just uses the waste heat from the engine.

_{once upon a midnight dreary, while i pron surfed, weak and weary, over many a strange and spurious site of ' hot xxx galore'. While i clicked my fav'rite bookmark, suddenly there came a warning, and my heart was filled with mourning, mourning for my dear amour, " 'Tis not possible!", i muttered, " give me back my free hardcore!"..... quoth the server, 404.}

2010-03-04 10:43:09

#8

wah1188: You orrible caaaaaaan't; +321|6869|UK

I think turning off the engine only saves fuel when you're going to be stationary for about a minute or something.

2010-03-04 10:44:04

#9

jord: Member; +2,382|7086|The North, beyond the wall.

Alright thanks, all the above questions where regarding a 1.2 '98 hatchback.

2010-03-04 10:45:57

#10

wah1188: You orrible caaaaaaan't; +321|6869|UK

Fuck sake jord you are such a pikey. Anytime I catch you on xfire it boils down to, sooooo dya wnt to buy some dvds, games, shoe horns, condoms or dildos.

2010-03-04 10:48:09

#11

ghettoperson: Member; +1,943|7058

Make sure your tyre pressures are correct. It probably doesn't make much difference in the short term, but over the course of a year it should save you a bit of cash.

2010-03-04 10:50:22

#12

PrivateVendetta: I DEMAND XMAS THEME; +704|6600|Roma

No A/C, no heated seats etc.
Find the most efficient RPM for you car and try and stay there.

https://static.bf2s.com/files/user/29388/stopped%20scrolling%21.png

2010-03-04 10:50:43

#13

jord: Member; +2,382|7086|The North, beyond the wall.

Wah the first time I asked you said yeah and spun off a list you wanted and then you took it back, hence my persistance. Dingle. Finray did the same, hence why I've been tryna sell him a Jack Daniels Zippo for the last 18 months....

And yeah ghetto I've been meaning to do that as well. Waiting till it decides to stop snowing first.

2010-03-04 10:53:08

#14

wah1188: You orrible caaaaaaan't; +321|6869|UK

Hey I'll buy the zippo off you! Pics plox? I felt pressured to buy the shit and I honestly had no money at the time.

2010-03-04 10:55:30

#15

jord: Member; +2,382|7086|The North, beyond the wall.

I'll give you pics tomorrow as it's the alternate weekend that I get to spend at my dads on the internet. I think it's the lucky number 7 one, or lucky number 8/9...one of those. and its silver. i got it for 30 squid and lit 2 cigars with it before i realised looking cool as fuck by yourself doesnt count as cool at all....

2010-03-04 10:57:06

#16

Finray: Hup! Dos, Tres, Cuatro; +2,629|6197|Catherine Black

Fuck you, Jord.

Also: I have money to purchase such an item, but lolz I don't want it!

Last edited by Finray (2010-03-04 10:57:42)

2010-03-04 10:58:22

#17

jord: Member; +2,382|7086|The North, beyond the wall.

i guess you want be looking cool anytime soon then, finindiangiver

2010-03-04 11:14:07

#18

wah1188: You orrible caaaaaaan't; +321|6869|UK

Oh yeah and and another tip for saving petrol. Weight! Throw shit out seats, stereo rip out the air con. Most of all lose some weight yer fat fuck!

I kid I kid.

2010-03-04 11:14:53

#19

Finray: Hup! Dos, Tres, Cuatro; +2,629|6197|Catherine Black

wah, you're on to something there. Clear your car out frequently. If you have another 50kg of shite in your boot it's not helping fuel consumption any.

2010-03-04 11:16:33

#20

GodFather: Blademaster's bottom bitch; +387|6628|Phoenix, AZ

Wait about flipping into neutral at a stop light in an automatic car?

2010-03-04 11:19:03

#21

wah1188: You orrible caaaaaaan't; +321|6869|UK

Oh yeah have you heard of hypermiling jord?

2010-03-04 11:25:31

#22

DrunkFace: Germans did 911; +427|7090|Disaster Free Zone

Tips to save fuel.

1. Have your tyres pumped up: Potential saving ~0.5% per PSI per tyre.
Inflate your tyres to at least the recommended PSI or even 1-2 PSI over as this will reduce rolling resistance, not only will it reduce fuel consumption but its safer and tyre wear is decreased. Going over the recommended Pressure by a few pounds is not necessarily bad as they are rated to maximise ride comfort rather then fuel consumption/tyre wear.

2. Get some rolling resistant tyres: Potential saving ~5%
Tyre technologies keep improving and new compounds offer the same safety and durability but with much lower rolling resistance. They do cost a little more to start with but will easily pay for them selves over their life.

3. Wash and polish your car: Potential savings ~1-2%
Air is the major source of resistance, especially when travelling at higher speeds. You can't do much about the shape of your car, but by keeping it washed and polished the wind resistance is dramatically decreased.

4. Don't use the air-conditioner: Potential saving ~10%+
Any time you are using your air compressor its wasting lots of fuel, just turn it off and just use the fan. Opening windows will increase drag, but it is many times more efficient then using an air-conditioner.

5. Manual transmission: Potential saving ~10-15%

6. Smooth acceleration and braking: Potential saving ~5%
Don't over rev the engine and let the car coast up to traffic lights.

7. Maintenance: Potential saving ~10%
If your car is properly maintained, with fresh oil and oil filters, air filters, spark plugs, water, etc it will run more efficiently.

8. Remove any dead weight: Potential saving ~3%
Everything your car has to pull around is costing you money. If its not vital for that trip then leave it at home.

9. Use a good quality fuel: Potential saving ~5%
It may cost more, but it usually pays for it self.

2010-03-04 12:41:48

#23

Jasp: Bongabilla; +171|7070|The Outer Circle

I did a course in October, DSFED (Defensive, Safe and Fuel Efficient Driving)

It taught me a shitload, even tho i was very sceptical to start with!

Without goin into to much detail, coz i cba.. (ill do a big post later)

Its simple things, example..

When the traffic lights ahead are on green, chances are when you actually get there they will have turned to red. So just back off the power, when you get to the lights they should have turned back to green, and then you can build back speed. This saves not only fuel, but also wear on your brakes.

(big post later)

https://static.bf2s.com/files/user/11882/holteendersig2.jpg

https://forums.bf2s.com/img/avatars/11508.gif

2010-03-04 12:50:55

#24

Mekstizzle: WALKER; +3,611|7029|London, England

Well I'd say don't drive like a maniac, shift up fast and always use higher gears. Stick to speed limits. Maintain the car well. Chuck out any shit in the car you don't need and save weight.

I dunno, stick behind big things likes lorries and buses, they displace huge amounts of air so if you're in their wake it's that much easier on the engine. But now we're getting really anal about efficiency.

Just do the basics, and if it's still hitting you hard. Ditch the car and get an oyster card or whatever equivalent you have in yorkshire.

2010-03-04 13:00:01

#25

Jay: Bork! Bork! Bork!; +2,006|5766|London, England

jord wrote:
Hi motoring enthusiasts. What with the harsh financial times and being a cheap bastard I've been trying to drive more economically. IE coasting down hills. Does this actually make any differance? I'm also curious about traffic jams. I've been in a few lately and I know turning the ignition off and on probably uses a fair bit of petrol but is it more than the engine running for 30 seconds? What about 60 seconds+? Finally, does using the heater increase fuel consumption?

I await your helpful responses kind fellows.

Move to the US. A gallon of gas here in NYC is $2.89 a gallon.

"Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don't you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough."
-Frederick Bastiat

BF2S Forums Driving cheaply

Engineer_Fox wrote:

jord wrote:

jord wrote:

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